NFL legend critical of sport's officiating amid latest controversies: 'Up in the air'

NFL legend Rob Gronkowski tells Fox News Digital he wants to see NFL officials become full-time employees amid another season of controversial calls.

SAN FRANCISCO – NFL referees are under the biggest microscope ever. With cameras from every angle and the slowest of motions possible, it's quite easy to criticize officiating from the couch.

But Rob Gronkowski, who watches plenty of football as part of "NFL on FOX," believes the league needs to do something to increase the quality of calls.

‘Officiating's been up in the air. I don't want to sit here and really criticize officiating because it's really tough. It's really tough to do that. It is a split second. You gotta make a call, throw a penalty flag, and kind of remember what you saw right on the spot. So it's tough," Gronkowski told Fox News Digital on radio row.

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Rob Gronkowski of the New England Patriots argues with field judge Mike Weatherford after receiving a penalty during the Bills game at New Era Field on Dec. 3, 2017, in Buffalo, New York. (Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)

Gronkowski's solution is one that you may not even know is a fact.

"I think officiating should, they should get paid very well and compensated well, and they should be full-time. From what I hear, they're not full-time, and they have other jobs as well. That makes absolutely no sense," Gronkowski said adamantly. 

New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski argues his case to head coach Bill Belichick, left, and an official after an altercation. (Barry Chin/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

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"This is a multibillion-dollar industry.